With only a handful of cars left to be sold, the venerable and spectacular Bugatti Veyron->ke1112 is getting ready to hit the history books. There's been a lot of talk about its successor, reportedly due in 2017, but details are still under wraps as of August 2014. What we know for a fact is that the vehicle coming to replace the Veyron will be more powerful, meaning output will blast beyond the 1,250 horsepower mark. Naturally, Bugatti->ke16 will want to improve on its Guinness Book record for the fastest production car.

As we're waiting for Bugatti to confirm whether or not the Veyron successor will carry a hybrid drivetrain - as suggested by a pair of mules spotted on the Nurburgring->ke999 track in April 2014 - the folks over at Car and Driver claim they have solved one mystery surrounding the new supercar->ke177. Namely, the next uber-fast Bugatti will bear the Chiron moniker. What's more, the report suggests the so-called Chiron will make its first public appearance as soon as 2015, meaning the Veyron might get a heir to the speed-record throne sooner than expected.

A grain of salt is mandatory with such reports, but there are a couple of reasons why Bugatti might indeed launch its upcoming supercar under the Chiron nameplate. Read on to find out more.

Note: 1999 Bugatti Chiron concept pictured here.

Click past the jump to read more about Bugatti Veyron's Successor.

Why It Matters

The Chiron name is of the utmost importance to Bugatti. The name has been previously used in 1999, when the company showcased a concept car wearing the same denomination. Designed by Fabrizio Giugiaro of ItalDesign, the Chiron carried a mid-engine configuration similar to the Veyron and was powered by a 6.3-liter, W-18 powerplant designed by Volkswagen. The unit was rated at 555 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque and was distributed to a permanent four-wheel-drive system.

But the Chiron saga didn't start with the aforementioned supercar. The concept car actually payed tribute to Louis Chiron, a successful racing driver in the 1920s and 1930s. Chiron won 22 events in the pre-F1 years and competed in several races after the series was established in 1950. Mostly known for racing Bugattis, Chiron remained the driver with most podiums in Bugatti cars to this day. No wonder he had a concept car named after him.

Bugatti Veyron's Successor

The first unofficial details surrounding the Veyron successor surfaced in April 2014 when our spy photographers caught a pair of Veyron mules lapping the Nuburgring track. One vehicle carried a strange aluminum setup atop its engine, while the latter features wider fenders, a wider track, and carbon-fiber wheels. Most rumors point toward a hybrid drivetrain incorporating an updated 8.0-liter W-16 engine. We expect the next Veyron weight less than the current car and reach top speeds in excess of 280 mph.